Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1887-06-24

''Oh, dear little hand, how shall
ever thank Your gentle mistress? As
good as she is beautiful. Miss Mir
iani-
1t was sensitive little hand. 1t
gave start within his own and hut-
tered. and turned just tritle colder,
! and made faint attempt to get
away.
He knew instantly that he had made
mistake, but he held the little priS-
oner fast.
Il have been in error. 1t is to Ag-
nes | should have addressed my
thanks, not Miriam. All, dearest
friend and nurse -
Not Agnes. either. Younev saw
me. Mr.. Melville. | am younger
sister, Polly-Polly Hopkins.
The quaint and homely name struck
his fancy on the moment. He smiled,
and cried almost unconsciously:
+ Pretty. pretty Polly Hopkins
Yes. answered Polly. quite sim
ply, that is what they all call me-"
wonder that his imagination inn
mediately invested her with all sorts
/ of charms.
How | wish | could see your dear
& Ht SSlti, Win sigh 4
SO often picture il Ia myself. Polly-a
lovely innocent face, with great dark
eyes. and \ little rosebud mouth-and
( | shall never see you-ncver. 1t is
hard Ia bear"
/ She had not the courage tn unde
ceiye him. fearing that If he knew the
truth he would dislike her; and she
loved him So But one day he heard
Miriam call her dear little ugt
+ duck
+ why did Miriam call You that?'
he ;.>ked.
Now Polly was truthful Ia the core.
She turned crimson before those sight
F less ewes, and hid her -iear-stained
face, and told him truly why.
He was silent for \ while. then put
out his hand and drew her toward
F him.
Then YOU are not beautiful 'Pret-
/ ~ Polly Hopkins aud the Ugly Duck
are oneo Wha, color i Your hair,
Pollv2"
/ Red. IN" told him. trembling.
That was startling. Melville was =
/ lover Of beauty. and hated red
hair.
biK- Aii'E al. W ts1f h'a'- III
to me?' he thought sadly. Then
aloud "All the same. love you.
| Polly. To me. at least. You are beau
/ tiful. because YOU are sweet and good.
| Will yeu MARRY me, Pony
She could aot believe him At first.
II am not good enough-not pretty
enough.
.Bu, he talk-.i her out II that, and so
they wrre engaged
..And I'll tIy les be prettier. I'll
] take pains aud do my hair. and dress,
l shs s-.;d ~,.h ,.daaD .insrir. f'"r.
He smiled -s,.ily.
What does that natter | shall
never see my little wife. II i her
loving heart that must suffice me.
But she hail mad. her resolution.
IN trs and b,. little pretty for
Your sake. >n that when others look
upon Your wife y"u ucc'l not blush
for her.
- hr. being c"nval->ecnt. went
back I" town He had determined to
have ether aud ia. best medical aid
! for hi, injured ewes.
Hc VA. tn return At Christmas for
gheir wedding: the interim was left to
Polly fur her proposed reform.
She set about II earnestly The
hraVk masses uf luNuriant hair were
,aryfullS arranged and braided. and
+ To- il wa~ braut,fullV--mall and
shapriH head round which the GLOSSY
rurl> iaN smooth and close.
Her long confinement in the dark
+ ruvd room had cleared the sun-buru
f from her clear, fair skin. and love ant
E hal a ihD
+ t" a pair of candid. gentle, soft grey
eyes: and when At last Miriam Kind
wish Was gratiiied. aud wrll-made and
{ becoming dresses set OH her graceful.
giIlish form. the ugly duck was
ugly no longer. aud Pretty Polly Hop
/ kin> was pretty indeed.
Meantime III" post brought the joy
ful news Hugh WAS in Germany, in u
skilled phN sicIan care. who gave him
( hopes of recovering his sight He
! asked that their marriage might be
/ postponed till spring. Sh. a>sented To
] that. for such 4 reason, most joy
+ fully.
/ So the winter passed. spring was at
I hand. Hugh Melville set forth, with
/ sight restored. I" fulfill the promise he
/ had given in his blIadnc>> to marry
/ the woman whom he had never Yet
! bchcld
He felt like one who goes To his ex-
! ecution. In sickness aud blindness.
/ and their attendant mi>eric>. he had
naturally cmug Ia the gentle girl
whose devotion had greatly allevi-
at.d his srff rings and touched his
/ heart. What did her uglinc>S matter
! to one who could never behold il? But
now, il WAS 4 very different affair,
since hr could see. Surely such n
! hideous partner for life would be a
/ positive calamity.
For, a Is usually the ease, his inn
agination, cropping blindly in the dark.
! had greatly exaggerated the actual
facts He pictured to himself sort
of modern Gorgou-a terrible. coarse
creature. with snub nose, and u
frightful mouth. and an ugly freckled
face. surrounded and worst of
all-by that detestable red hair.
And this creature is 10 be my
wife," he sighed 1T would almost
have been better to have continued
blind. since have doomed myself to
such companionship.
He had written to prepare her for
| his coming, but had not informed her
upon what day he should arrive; for
he thought:
I'm get sight of her before she sees
me at all. So rs to get used to her APP
pcarance, and not shock or wound the
poor souls sensitive heart by any show
of disgust. If the sacrifice is to be
made ut all, it may as we'll be made
graciouSly.
BY all which You will see that he en-
tcrtained some most exaggerated no
tions, and also that he was an honor
able and generous fellow, who meant
at all events to keep his word; also
that he had-in spite of his notions
and prejudiceS- tender and affec-
tionate regard for the little nurse to
whose care he owed no less than his
life.
A large garden ran all around Mrs.
Hopkins cottage. 1t was May. The